< Книга Есфири 4 >

1 Мардохей же разумев замышляемое, раздра ризы своя и облечеся во вретище и посыпася пепелом: и скочив в пространную улицу града, возопи воплем великим и горьким: взимается род ничтоже преступивый.
When Mordecai learned of all that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.
2 И прииде даже до врат царевых и ста: не леть бо бе ему внити во двор во вретище облечену и пепелом осыпану сущу.
But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate.
3 И во всяцей стране, идеже показовахуся писания (царева), вопль бе и плачь и рыдание превелие Иудеом, вретище и пепел постилаху себе.
In every province to which the king’s command and edict came, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4 И внидоща рабыни и евнуси царицыны и возвестиша ей. И смятеся услышавши бывшее: и посла ризы облещи Мардохеа и сняти вретище его. И не послуша.
When Esther’s maidens and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, the queen was overcome with distress. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.
5 Есфирь же призва Ахрафеа скопца своего, предстоящаго ей,
Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to her, and she dispatched him to Mordecai to learn what was troubling him and why.
6 и посла его уведати от Мардохеа истину.
So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the king’s gate,
7 Мардохей же сказа ему бывшее, и обещание, еже обеша Аман царю в сокровищный дом (положити) десять тысящ талант сребра, да погубит Иудей:
and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury in order to destroy the Jews.
8 и списание (повеления) изданнаго в Сусех (граде) на погубление их даде ему, да покажет Есфири: и рече ему, заповедати ей ити молити царя и просити его о людех, поминаюши дни смирения твоего, како воспитана еси в руце моей, зане Аман вторый по цари глагола противу нам на смерть: призови Господа и глаголи царю о нас, да избавит нас от смерти.
Mordecai also gave Hathach a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for the destruction of the Jews, to show and explain to Esther, urging her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead before him for her people.
9 Вшед же Ахрафей, поведа Есфири вся глаголы сия.
So Hathach went back and relayed Mordecai’s response to Esther.
10 И рече Есфирь ко Ахрафею: иди к Мардохею и рцы:
Then Esther spoke to Hathach and instructed him to tell Mordecai,
11 понеже вси языцы царствия ведят, яко всяк муж или жена, иже аще внидет ко царвеи во внутренний дом не призван, несть ему спасения, точию к немуже аще прострет царь златый жезл, сей спасен будет: аз же несмь звана внити ко царю се уже тридесять дний.
“All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.”
12 И возвести Ахрафей Мардохею вся глаголы Есфирины.
When Esther’s words were relayed to Mordecai,
13 И рече Мардохей ко Ахрафею: иди и рцы ей: Есфире, да не речеши в себе, яко ты едина спасешися во царствии паче всех Иудей:
he sent back to her this reply: “Do not imagine that because you are in the king’s palace you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews.
14 зане аще преслушаеши в сие время, отинуду помощь и покров будет Иудеом, ты же и дом отца твоего погибнете: и кто весть, аще на сие время воцарилася еси?
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
15 И посла Есфирь пришедшаго к ней ко Мардохею, глаголющи:
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:
16 шед собери Иудеи иже в Сусех, и поститеся о мне, и не ядите ниже пийте три дни день и нощь: аз же и служебницы моя (такожде) не имамы ясти: и тогда вниду ко царю кроме закона, аще и погибнути ми приключится.
“Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”
17 И шед Мардохей сотвори, елика заповеда ему Есфирь.
So Mordecai went and did all that Esther had instructed him.

< Книга Есфири 4 >